System and Method For Real-Time Observation Assessment

ABSTRACT

Techniques for real-time observation assessment are provided. The techniques, which are designed for educators, take advantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and Internet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventional educational assessments. An array of instructional assessment applications are designed to run on handheld computers. The instructional assessment applications may be based on existing and widely used paper methodologies. A common Web-based platform for assessment application distribution, selection, download, data management and reporting is also provided. Users can then periodically synchronize instructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/or schedules) to the Web site. At the Web site, browser-based reports and analysis can be viewed, administered and shared via electronic mail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/197,482, filed Jul. 18, 2002, and titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FORREAL-TIME OBSERVATION ASSESSMENT, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/305,887, filed Jul. 18, 2001, bothof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to computer informationgathering and processing systems, and more particularly to acomputer-based system and method for performing real-time educationalassessments.

2. Related Art

In today's technological environment, many advances have been made inthe fields of software and computing. More specifically, the advent ofsmaller, faster and more powerful laptops, mobile computing devices,personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like, along with theincreasing accessibility of the global, public Internet, havetransformed how people work, play and learn. Likewise, new softwareapplications for these advanced computing devices have been developedwhich allow people to become more efficient and productive in almostevery aspect—whether it be in business or personal—of daily life. Theseadvances have combined to make present society less of a paper cultureand more of an electronic (digital) culture.

The above-mentioned advances, however, have not touched every aspect ofpresent day life. That is, some tasks or processes are still done using“pen and paper.” One example of this is the elementary school assessmentprocess which is still primarily a paper process.

Classroom assessments are used by teachers as a powerful tool forimproving student achievement. This is because classroom assessments canhelp teachers plan future lesson plans, adjust learning goals forparticular students, and allows teachers to provide more frequentfeedback to students about how to improve and actively engages studentsin their own learning. Using assessments allows teachers to adjust theirlesson plans accordingly, thus resulting in higher student achievement.The administration and reporting of these assessments are often mandatedby individual schools, school districts or state-wide departments ofeducation.

The method by which teachers observe and assess student's skills andprogress in a particular subject has not changed much over the past fewdecades and thus, has not benefitted from the above-described advancesin the fields of software and computing. For example, in the area ofreading and literacy, teachers often administer (paper) assessments toobserve and assess student's reading skills and measure progress. Onesuch assessment is known as the “running record” as described in MarieM. Clay, “An Observation Survey: Of Early Literacy Achievement,” ISBN:0435087630 (Heinemann 1993) [hereinafter “Clay”], which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The running record, asdescribed in Clay, utilizes a system of coding, scoring, analysis anduse of running record paper sheets and has been used in educationalsystems worldwide as a way of observing children's progress in the earlyyears of learning about literacy and determining which children needsupplementary teaching.

For all its benefits, the paper running records add to the alreadysignificant amount of paperwork which teachers must perform. That is,teachers, for each student, must prepare the records beforeadministering the assessments and record scores and comments during theassessment, and keep the records for later analysis and generatingreports. This is in addition to other paper work—such as progressreports, report cards, lesson plans and the like—which teachers mustalready perform. Thus, there has been a general need for tools to helpteachers manage, minimize of ease the burden of paperwork and morespecifically, the burden of paperwork with respect to (oftentimes,mandatory) educational assessments.

Therefore, given the above, what is needed is a system, method andcomputer program product for real-time observation assessment, designedfor educators, that takes advantage of handheld computers,desktop/laptop computers and the increasing presence of Internet accessin order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventionaleducational assessments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the above-identified needs by providing asystem, method and computer program product for real-time observationassessment.

The system of the present invention consists of an array ofinstructional applications designed to run on handheld computers,portable computing devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and thelike. The instructional applications are all linked to a commonWeb-based infrastructure for application distribution, selection,download, data management and reporting.

The method and computer program product of the present invention allowsusers (e.g., teachers, educators and administrators) to visit a centralWeb site, where they can register individually or as part of a school orschool district. Once registered, they can choose an applicationappropriate for their subject and grade level from numerous availableapplications. They then download (and in some cases, customize) theseapplications and install them on their handheld device for daily use.

Periodically (e.g., either daily or weekly), users synchronizeinstructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/orschedules) to the central Web site. At the Web site, browser-basedreports and analysis can be viewed, student lists can be administered orfurther customizations can be made to previously-downloadedapplications.

When teachers are part of a school or school district license, data andreports may be shared with other teachers, tutors, administrators orparents from that particular school or school district, and otherschool-based features may be enjoyed.

An advantage of the present invention is that it allows for morestandardized data capture. That is, teachers often vary in the ways theycapture and report assessment data. The present invention, however,helps to ensure that different teachers are generating comparable datafor more meaningful observational assessment data comparison andanalysis.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides immediateanalysis and calculation of key statistics and elimination of“after-the-fact” data entry. Because assessments are often administeredunder severe time constraints, teachers often postpone the importantnumerical analysis until much later. In some cases, teachers must entertheir written data into a computer analysis system. Providing immediateanalysis, however, can speed the teacher's ability to take follow-upactions with students.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesstreamlined reporting of assessment results and student needs. Teachershave to generate reading progress reports for administrators andparents. The conventional process currently involves a great deal ofsearching files for relevant assessments, and then “cutting and pasting”them into readable reports or entering assessment results into acomputer spreadsheet. The automated data collection and reportgeneration of the present invention reduces this process to a fewminutes, thereby reducing teachers' paperwork burden. Furthermore, thereduced administrative burden and speed of the present inventionencourages teachers to administer more frequent assessments, therebybenefitting students.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it providesstreamlined generation of class-wide progress reports. Teachers andadministrators currently create class-wide progress reports to spot whena student or a class is falling behind. Automating these reports, usingthe present invention, now saves paperwork and can give teaching staff acontinuous view of class progress.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows for theaggregation, analysis and reporting of data at the school level,district level or even higher levels. By collecting assessment data frommany classrooms into a central repository (unlike classroomdesktop-based software applications), these reports and analyses areeasily generated without time-consuming and costly collection andcollation of data.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows fordiscretion and non-intrusiveness. The handheld devices on which theassessments of the present invention execute can be used during thereading process without creating a physical barrier between teacher andstudent. The assessments are easy to use and allow the teacher to keeptheir attention on the student.

Further features and advantages of the invention as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the present inventionare described in detail below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-mostdigit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which thereference number first appears.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the system architecture of anembodiment of the present invention, showing connectivity among thevarious components.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of the operational processof the real-time observation assessment system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the software architecture of anembodiment of the present invention, showing data flow among the variouscomponents.

FIGS. 4A-M are exemplary PDA-based windows or screen shots generated bythe graphical user interface of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-K are exemplary Web-based windows or screen shots generated bythe graphical user interface of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating in more detail, according to anembodiment of the present invention, portions of the softwarearchitecture shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6B is a sequence diagram illustrating the synchronization processin one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system useful forimplementing the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Overview

The present invention provides a system, method and computer programproduct for real-time observation assessment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a service providerorganization provides and allows access, perhaps on a subscriber fee orpay-per-use basis, to a Web-based tool that allows real-time observationassessment. The system, method and computer program product takeadvantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and theincreasing presence of Internet access in order to reduce the paperworkassociated with conventional educational assessments. That is, theservice provider would provide the hardware (e.g., servers) and software(e.g., database) infrastructure (i.e., a platform), educationalassessment application software, customer support, and billing mechanismto allow its customer-subscribers (e.g., individual teachers, readingspecialist, educators, principals or school administrators, or entireschools, school districts or state-wide departments of education and thelike) to download applications, upload assessment data, perform dataanalysis and generate and send reports via electronic mail. The toolwould be used by subscribers to obtain both real-time and historicalinformation, characteristics, and trend analysis to make educationalplanning decisions.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a service providerorganization provides and allows access, on a subscriber fee basis, to aplatform that allows real-time observation literacy assessment based onthe running record methodology described in Clay. The platform makes usea personal digital assistant (PDA), a desktop with synchronizationsoftware and access to the global Internet, and the service providerorganization's Web site to enable real-time literacy assessment at thepoint of instruction, with data capture and transfer to an Web-baseddata system.

The present invention is now described in more detail herein in terms ofthe above example. This is for convenience only and is not intended tolimit the application of the present invention. In fact, after readingthe following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in therelevant art(s) how to implement the following invention in alternativeembodiments (e.g., real-time observation assessment for subjects otherthan reading, applications that implement assessment methodologies otherthan that described in Clay, or utilizing other mobile computing devicesother than a PDA).

The terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “teacher,” “educator,”“school,” “school district,” “state-wide department of education,” andthe plural form of these terms may be used interchangeably throughoutherein to refer to those who would access, use, and/or benefit from thetool that the present invention provides for real-time, observationassessment.

II. System Architecture

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrating the physicalarchitecture of a real-time observation assessment (“RTOA”) system 100,according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. FIG. 1shows network connectivity among the various components of system 100.

RTOA system 100 includes a plurality of subscribers (e.g., individualteachers, educators or school administrators, or entire schools, schooldistricts or state-wide departments of education and the like). Eachsubscriber is equipped with a mobile computing device (e.g., a Palm™ VHandheld PDA) 102. Located within PDA 102 (but shown externally for easeof reference herein) is a local cache 104 which stores recently enteredor accessed memory (e.g., a recently-entered or accessed student runningrecord).

PDA 102 is linked, either via a serial or universal serial bus (USB)connection, to a workstation 106 (e.g., an IBM™ or compatible personalcomputer (PC) running the Microsoft® Windows 95/98™ or Windows NT™operating system, Macintosh® computer running the Mac® OS operatingsystem or the like), running a commercially-available Web browser (e.g.,Microsoft Internet Explorer). (For simplicity, FIG. 1 shows only one PDA102 and workstation 106.) Subscribers would connect to theinfrastructure of RTOA system 100 (i.e., a platform 120) which isprovided and maintained by the RTOA service provider. Access to platform120 is granted to subscribers via the global Internet 108.

In alternative embodiments, subscribers may access platform 120 of RTOAsystem 100 using any processing device including, but not limited to, adesktop computer, laptop, palmtop, workstation, set-top box, PDA withwireless Internet access and the like.

Platform 120 of RTOA system 100 includes a Web server 110, anapplication server 112, a master repository database 114 (located on adatabase server 118, but shown externally for ease of reference herein),and a plurality of administrative workstations 116 (shown as oneworkstation 116 in FIG. 1 for simplicity).

Web server 110 provides the “front end” for RTOA system 100. That is,server 110 contains a Web server process running at a Web site whichsends out Web pages in response to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) orHypertext Transmission Protocol, Secured (HTTPS) requests from remotebrowsers (i.e., subscribers of the RTOA service provider). Morespecifically, it provides a graphical user interface (GUI) “front end”screens to subscribers of RTOA system 100 in the form of Web pages.These Web pages, when sent to the subscriber's workstation 106 (or thelike), would result in GUI screens being displayed. In addition, server110 provides the central point of communication that subscriberworkstation 106 connects to for synchronization purposes.

In an embodiment of the present invention, server 110 is a Sun or NTworkstation having access to application server 112. Application server112 in turn has access to master repository database 114, via a databaseserver 118, implemented with relational database management serversoftware (e.g., Oracle 9 RDBMS). Database 114 is the central store forinformation within RTOA system 100 (e.g., book titles and text,subscriber information such as login names, passwords, etc., and studentdata such as running records, comments, historical data anddemographics-related data for report generation).

While one database 114 is shown in FIG. 1 for ease of explanation, itwill be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s), that RTOA system100 may utilize databases physically located on one or more computerswhich may be the same as any of servers 110, 112 or 118. Furthermore, inan embodiment of the present invention, database 114 can be mirrored forfault tolerance.

Application server 112 of platform 120 serves as the “back end” of thepresent invention. As such, it provides three main services (which areexplained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3). First,application server 112 contains logic for producing dynamic content forthe Web interface of platform 120. Second, application server 112provides a system-wide logging service that collects data for supportand monitoring functions. Third, it contains logic for the remotemanagement of software on subscriber desktops 106 and PDAs 102, as wellas synchronization code logic that translates data first entered andstored in PDA 102 and uploaded from workstation 106 to Web server 110for storage onto master database 114. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, server 112 is a Sun or NT workstation, although theseservices could be provided by (i.e., distributed among) a plurality ofservers.

Administrative workstation 116 is used by the service providerorganization as a management platform and contains a set of Web toolsfor remotely administering user, student, class and school data, as wellas to update,.maintain, monitor and log statistics related to server110, server 112 and RTOA system 100 in general. Also, administrativeworkstation 116 may be used “off-line” by the service providerorganization's personnel in order to enter configuration, user, student,school and application specific data in order to customize theperformance of system 100. Accordingly, FIGS. 5D-F show exemplarywindows or screen shots generated by Web server 110 that can bedisplayed on administrative workstation 116 in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein, all of the components inside platform 120 areconnected and communicate via a wide or local area network (WAN or LAN)which is placed behind a firewall for security purposes.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant art(s) afterreading the description herein, a service provider organization canreplicate platform 120 of RTOA system 100 in several market areas (i.e.,schools or school districts) in which they offer services to support aplurality of subscribers (each having their own PDAs 102 andworkstations 106).

More detailed descriptions of RTOA system 100 components, as well astheir functionality, are provided below.

III. System Operation Overview

Referring to FIG. 2, a flowchart depicting an embodiment of anoperational process 200 of the real-time observation assessment system100 of the present invention is shown. That is, process 200 illustrateshow, in an embodiment, an individual teacher (i.e., subscriber) mayregister with the service provider, download a running records literacyassessment application for their PDA (based on the methodology describedin Clay), assess a student, upload the resulting data, and then generatea report. Flowchart 200 begins at step 202 with control passingimmediately to step 204.

In step 204, a teacher would access the service provider's Web siteusing workstation 106 in order to obtain an account (i.e., a login andpassword). In an embodiment, the service provider organization may havea contractual arrangement with a school, school district or state-widedepartment of education which would allow individual teachers to obtainaccounts and access platform 120 (and thus, the real-time observationassessment tool of the present invention).

In step 206, Web server 110 provides GUI screens to workstation 106 toenable the subscriber to set up a class roster (i.e., a list of studentnames, any other contact information and any demographics-related datakept by the subscriber for each student). FIGS. 5G-I show exemplarywindows or screen shots generated by Web server 110 that can bedisplayed on subscriber workstation 106 during step 206 in an embodimentof the present invention.

In step 208, Web server 110 provides GUI screens to enable thesubscriber to select and form a book list appropriate for the grade andreading levels for the subscriber's students.

In step 210, all licensed applications and supporting files, as well asdata including the student roster and the entire text (or portion) ofeach book in the book list, are downloaded from platform 120 to thesubscriber's PDA 102 via a synchronization process. (This would occur,in an embodiment, with PDA 102 in its cradle which is connected eithervia a serial or USB connection to workstation 106 and the user pressingthe HotSync® button.) In an embodiment of the present invention, thesynchronization process is accomplished via a plug-in to the HotSyncsynchronization software (i.e., a conduit) that accompanies such (e.g.,Palm V Handheld) PDAs 102. In such an embodiment, the plug-in would bedeveloped by the service provider organization using a softwaredevelopment kit (SDK) available from Palm, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein, the service provider organization would causethe plug-in to be downloaded to workstation 106 during the registrationprocess (step 204). In an alternate embodiment, the plug-in could beloaded directly onto workstation 106 from a CD-ROM or other media madeavailable to subscribers by the service provider prior to theregistration process. As will be also apparent to one skilled in therelevant art(s) after reading the description herein, the serviceprovider organization would make several different plug-ins available,using several different vendors' SDKs, based on the specific make andmodel of mobile computing device 102 being used by the subscriber.

In step 212, within the classroom environment and after the subscriberlaunches on their PDA 102 the previously-downloaded assessmentapplication, an individual student's record is selected from the roster.This would be done as the subscriber is preparing to administer areal-time, observation assessment of the student's literacy.

In step 214, a book title is selected from the previously downloadedbook list. In an embodiment of the present invention, books areorganized according to grade and reading level so that the subscribercan identify and select appropriate books quickly. This causes the textof the selected book to be loaded in cache 104 of PDA 102.

In step 216, the previously-downloaded application is used to administerthe real-time observation assessment of the student. (The real-timeobservation assessment process of step 216, in one embodiment, isexplained in more detail below.)

In step 218, the student's scores and analysis from the assessmentadministered in step 216 is displayed on the screen of the PDA 102.

In step 220, the subscriber would return to workstation 106, place PDA102 in its cradle, and the students running record, scores and anyanalysis would be uploaded to the Web site and stored onto database 114via a synchronization process (similar to that described in step 210).

In an embodiment, the synchronization process of step 220 involvessending data stored in local cache 104 to Web server 110, via theInternet 108, in a compressed Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.Then, a synchronization service process executing on Web server 110would translate the XML data into database records. Application server112 then stores such records onto database 114.

In step 222, the subscriber would log onto the service provider's Website (i.e., Web server 110) using workstation 106 and its connection tothe Internet 108. The log in process, in an embodiment, would use thelogin name and password assigned during the registration process (i.e.,step 204). FIGS. 5J-K show exemplary windows or screen shots generatedby Web server 110 that can be displayed on subscriber workstation 106during step 222 in an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 224, the subscriber would be presented with GUI screens by Webserver 110 using data stored in database 114 to perform post-processingof the raw data uploaded during the synchronization process of step 220.That is, in an embodiment, application-specific reports and data editorsare provided to users to allow a gallery of pre-configured reports to begenerated on demand.

In step 226, the subscriber is allowed to view any of the generatedreports on their workstation 106. In an embodiment, these reports may beforwarded and shared with administrators, parents, other teachers andthe like, via electronic mail and the like.

The control flow of process 200 may then end as indicated by step 228.

It should be understood that process 200, which highlights thefunctionality and other advantages of RTOA system 100, is presented forexample purposes only. The architecture of the present invention issufficiently flexible and configurable such that users may utilizesystem 100 in ways other than that shown in FIG. 2. For example, as willbe apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading thedescription herein, workstation 106 may actually be a plurality ofworkstations where a school subscriber may designate certainworkstations as “synchronization workstations” (i.e., for use duringsteps 210 and 220), while designating certain other workstations as “Webworkstations” (i.e., for use during steps 204-208 and 222-226).

IV. Software Architecture

Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating a softwarearchitecture 300 of an embodiment of system 100 is shown. FIG. 3 alsoshows communications (i.e., the data flow) among the various components.In an embodiment of the present invention, architecture 300 is designedin the client-server paradigm where the client is the mobile computingdevice (i.e., handheld) 102 and workstation 106, and the server isdistributed among the components of platform 120.

Architecture 300 includes a plurality of real-time observationassessment applications 302. An additional application on handhelddevice 102 maintains key parameters for synchronization. These includethe user's login information, server addresses and state informationregarding the most recent synchronization. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, all of these applications are written in a high-levelprogramming language such as C++.

Applications 302 execute on handheld 102 and read and write data to andfrom the on-board data cache 104. Data cache 104 stores assessmentinformation specific to each application as well as shared data (i.e.,student and class data) used by all real-time observation assessmentapplications 302 offered by the provider organization.

A desktop agent 306 (residing on workstation 106) is a modular,scriptable extension (i.e., plug-in) to the desktop-basedsynchronization software that comes with the handheld 102. Desktop agent306 handles network synchronization, error and event logging, PDA-basedassessment application updates, system configuration and updates toagent 306 itself. In an embodiment of the present invention, desktopagent 306 is written in a high-level programming language such as C++and an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming languagesuch as Python.

Architecture 300 includes an integration service 307 and a Web interfaceservice 316, both residing on application server 112. In an embodiment,these components are implemented using Java™ 2 Platform EnterpriseEdition. Integration service 307 provides the scheduling of commands tobe carried out by desktop agent 306 on a session-by-session basis. Itroutes communication from the client (i.e., subscriber workstation 106)to necessary component of platform 120. Web interface service 316 sendsout Web pages, via Web server 110, in response to Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP) or Hypertext Transmission Protocol, Secured (HTTPS)requests from remote Web browsers 306 executing on subscriberworkstations 106. In step 226 of process 200, for example, thesubscriber would be presented with GUI screens by Web server 110. Thisis accomplished by Web interface service 316 making Java DatabaseConnectivity (JDBC)/SQL queries for master data 314 (e.g., assessmentcontent and results) stored in database 114.

Architecture 300 includes a file and data synchronization application310, residing on application server 112. Synchronization application 310serves desktop agent 306 (i.e., a Sync Package 614 within agent 306described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6A). Theycommunicate in SyncML—an XML-based open standard that specifies theprotocol for synchronizing heterogeneous devices—in order to exchangeand resolve file and data changes between master database 114 and theclient's data store (i.e., cache 104). This interaction happens over avirtual communications channel carried over the HTTPS connection betweenagent 306 and integration service 307 (via a Sync Handler 305 withinintegration service 307 described in more detail below with reference toFIG. 6A). Synchronization application 310 is also responsible forstoring all master data 314 (i.e., school, student and teacherinformation, assessment content and results) onto database 114 via SQL,handles permissions, and maintains data related to all synchronizations.

Architecture 300 includes a logging service 318 (residing on applicationserver 112) and a log 320 (residing, in an embodiment, on databaseserver 118) which are both explained in more detail below with referenceto FIG. 6A.

In an embodiment of the present invention, components 307, 310 and 318,residing on application server 112, communicate via the Java programminglanguage library's Remote Method Invocation (RMI).

V. Synchronization Process

Architecture 300 within system 100 allows real-time observationassessment application files, data and any updates to be installedtransparently (i.e., without user intervention). The synchronizationprocess (i.e., steps 210 and 220 of process 200), in an embodiment ofthe present invention, is now explained in more detail.

At first use, the user runs a one-time installation program, whichregisters the conduit (i.e., a shared library) with the synchronizationmanger software provided with their PDA 102 (e.g., the Palm's HotSyncManager). In addition, an application that manages synchronizationinformation is installed to the PDA 102. The user then starts thisapplication on PDA 102 and enters their valid user name and password.

When the user decides to synchronize, the user places PDA 102 in itscradle and presses the synchronization (e.g., HotSync) button. Thisaction triggers the synchronization manger software of the PDA onworkstation 106, which in turn calls the desktop agent 306. Agent 306connects with Web server 110 (through a working connection to theInternet 108 from workstation 106) and automatically downloads andinstalls any new files required for any real-time observation assessmentapplications available from the service provider. Agent 306 alsorecognizes any new, changed and deleted data on PDA 102 and formats itfor transmission to Web server 110.

In one embodiment, agent 306 communicates with Web server 110 usingSyncML. SyncML messages are encrypted, compressed and exchanged usingHTTP over secure sockets layer (SSL) (i.e., HTTPS), so firewalls andcontent-filtering agents will not block the communication channel.

Web server 110 forwards SyncML messages from agent 306 tosynchronization application 310 running on application server 112.There, code logic reconciles the information received from agent 306with the contents of the central database 114, resolves potentialconflicts, and sends SyncML messages back to agent 306 specifyingmodifications to data store 104 on PDA 102 to ensure the data in datastore 104 matches that in (i.e., is synchronized with) master datarepository 114.

Application server 112 maintains a historical record of successfulsynchronization sessions for all users. In the case of inadvertent datacorruption or loss of data on PDA 102, synchronization application 310is able to restore the state of all real-time observation assessmentapplications on PDA 102 to an earlier, stable state.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein, the use of a wireless, Web-enabled PDA 102 wouldallow a user to bypass the use of workstation 106 in accessing platform120.

The synchronization process within system 100, according to anembodiment of the present invention, is now described in more detail.This time, however, reference is made to software architecture 300 andthe terminology defined in Table 1 below. TABLE 1 Term Definition ActionAn operation that a properly equipped Agent 306 can execute. Agent A setof programs (i.e., remote management utility) residing on desktop 106.Agent Core The central part of Agent 306 that coordinates requestsbetween Packages. Command An order for Agent 306 to invoke a specificAction, accompanied by arguments. Context A description of thecircumstances under which Agent 306 is operating; key elements includeStation identification and information pertaining to the particularTrigger that invoked the Agent. In the case of a device synchronization,this would include device identification as well as user authenticationinformation. Handler An extension to the Integration Server thatconnects Desktop Agent 306 with another component of platform 120.Package An extension (i.e., shared library or script) that enables Agent306 to perform one or more Actions. Trigger A program or other meansthat invokes Agent 306. Schedule A sequence of Commands to be sent toAgent 306. Scheduling Rule A mapping between a set of Contexts and alist of Commands. Session A full operation of Agent 306, beginning witha Trigger and ending with either a hang-up Command from server 110 or anerror. Station A desktop computer (i.e., workstation 106) that has Agent306 installed.

In general, the communication between desktop agent 306 and integrationservice 307 manifests itself as a series of message exchanges. Eachexchange includes agent 306 assembling a message, making a connection tointegration service 307, sending the message, receiving a response, andthen breaking the connection. This “conversation” begins when agent 306first contacts integration service 307. Desktop agent 306 continues toinitiate exchanges with service 307 until service 307 explicitlyindicates that the session has been completed with a hang-up command.

Shown in FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating in more detail,according to an embodiment of the present invention, portions of thesoftware architecture originally shown in FIG. 3 is shown. Thesynchronization process (i.e., step 220 of process 200) is now describedwith reference to FIG. 6A in order to detail the interaction betweendesktop agent 306 and integration service 307.

When a user starts the HotSync process with handheld 102 (i.e., placingit in the cradle and pressing the HotSync button), a HotSync Manager 620(residing on station 106) responds by starting a HotSync Trigger 618 fordesktop agent 306, which in turn invokes an agent core 610.

Agent Core 610 connects to an integration servlet 601 (via a connectorpackage 612 that initiates and manages communications between desktopagent 306 and Web server 110), and delivers a message identifying thestation and an indication that the user has requested synchronization ofhandheld 102.

Integration servlet 601 contacts a session manager 602 which isresponsible for maintaining session data across exchanges with agent307. Session manager 602 then creates a session identifier, which isused to recall session state for later exchanges. Session manager 602then contacts a scheduler 604, which returns a list of commands (i.e., aschedule) for agent 306 to execute. The schedule includes a command tobegin a data synchronization, as well as commands to download anyadditional application files from server 110 that might be needed bystation 106. Session manager 602 returns this session identifier and theschedule to integration servlet 601, which in turn packages them into amessage which is sent to agent 306.

Agent core 610 then invokes a synchronization package 614, whichinitiates a synchronization process with synchronization application 310(residing on application server 112). Synchronization package 614initiates this process by assembling an initial message, includingdevice identification as well as user name and password information fromthe handheld 102, which it obtains via a HotSync database package 616.HotSync database package 616 is a package that can read and/or writedata to a data store on handheld 102 (e.g., cache 104).

This initial message is returned to agent core 610, which then sends themessage to integration servlet 601. Servlet 601 recognizes that themessage is to be handled by a synchronization handler 605, whichperforms any necessary translation before passing the message on tosynchronization application 310. Application 310 responds with a seriesof messages for synchronization package 614, which are returned viasynchronization handler 605 to servlet 601. This cycle continues untilsynchronization application 310 indicates that it requires no furtherinformation. At this point, servlet 601 requests that agent 306 send anylogging information it has gathered up to this point. This logginginformation (e.g., failure to contact the integration service 307 on aprior attempt, events leading up to a prior connection breakage, orfailure to write a record to the PDA's data store 104 and the like) issent to a log handler 606, which in turn interprets the information andpasses it to logging service 318 (residing on application server 112)for storage into log 320 (residing, in an embodiment, on database server118). Finally, servlet 601 instructs agent 306 to hang up, which endsthe conversation.

A sequence diagram illustrating the above-described synchronizationprocess (i.e., step 220 of process 200), in one embodiment of thepresent invention, is shown in FIG. 6B.

VI. Real-Time Observation Assessment

As mentioned above, the present invention takes advantage of handheldcomputers, desktop/laptop computers and the increasing presence ofInternet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated withconventional educational assessments. Thus, an embodiment of the presentinvention allows a service provider organization to provide a platformthat allows real-time observation literacy assessment based on therunning record methodology described in Clay. Such an embodiment is nowdescribed in more detail.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-H, exemplary windows or screen shots generated bya real-time observation literacy assessment application executing on PDA102 during administration of an assessment are shown.

FIG. 4A is an exemplary “splash” window or screen shot 410, displayed onPDA 102 during the execution of the real-time observation literacyassessment application. That is, screen 410 is displayed on PDA 102immediately after the assessment application is launched.

FIG. 4B is an exemplary window or screen shot 420 which would bedisplayed on PDA 102 during the student and book selection steps (i.e.,steps 212-214 of process 200) of the real-time observation literacyassessment application. In an embodiment of the present invention, whenthe teacher selects a student from the class roster (top portion ofscreen 420), books that match that student's reading level automaticallyappear in the book selection list (lower portion of screen 420).

FIG. 4C is an exemplary window or screen shot 430 displayed on PDA 102during the administration of the literacy assessment (i.e., step 216 ofprocess 200) of the real-time observation literacy assessmentapplication. Screen 430 includes a ticker area 432, a palette of codebuttons 434 a-f, a display (“lens”) area 436, a freehand area 438 and aset of control buttons 439 a-e.

The assessment would begin when the teacher taps on start/pause controlbutton 439 c. This causes a timer display 437 to begin timing theduration of the assessment. Ticker area 432 sequentially displays apre-determined number of words from the text of the book selected inscreen 420 (i.e., step 214 of process 200). As a student physicallyreads the book aloud, the teacher can follow along on PDA screen 430. Asa student moves through the text of the selected book, (and thus, thepre-determined number of words displayed in ticker area 432), theteacher may use the PDA's stylus to tap an up arrow 431 a or a downarrow 431 b accordingly. At any time, the teacher may tap cancel controlbutton 439 d which would cancel the current assessment and not save anyof its data onto the handheld 102.

In an embodiment of the present invention, as the student reads the bookand the teacher follows along using ticker area 432, every time thestudent says a word correctly, the teacher needs to do nothing. Thus, inan embodiment, the real-time observation literacy assessment applicationis non-linear. That is, it saves effort and time for the teacher byemphasizing the capture of error-related (or behavior ofinterest-related) data during the assessment.

In such an embodiment, when a student says a word incorrectly (orexhibits some other behavior of interest), however, the teacher taps theword in area 432 which causes the word to be placed in a highlightedarea 435 within ticker area 432. This also causes the selected word tobe displayed in lens area 436. Freehand area 438 may then be used by theteacher to make a note about the error (e.g., writing the word thestudent mistakenly substituted for the highlighted word actually in thebook's text). In an embodiment, these notes are taken in freehandthereby eliminating the need to use Graffiti. At any time during thisprocess, clear control button 439 b may be tapped to clear any freehandtext placed in area 438 by the teacher in error.

Next, the teacher taps one or more of the code buttons 434 in thepalette to identify the error(s) or behavior(s) of interest. In anembodiment of the present invention that implements the Claymethodology, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevantart(s), buttons 434 provided in the palette by the literacy assessmentapplication are described in Table 2 below. TABLE 2 Button Label/CodeBehavior of Interest S Substitution: button 434a is tapped when studentsubstitutes another word, which may be written in area 438 by theteacher, for the tapped word in area 432. O Omission: button 434b istapped when student omits the tapped word in area 432. {circumflex over( )} Insertion: button 434c is tapped when student inserts a word not inthe text before/after the word tapped in area 432. T Told: button 434dis tapped when student could not read the word tapped in area 432 andhad to be told by teacher. SC Self-Correction: button 434e is tappedwhen the student said the word tapped in area 432 incorrectly, but thencorrected themselves.

In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in screen 430, afterthe teacher taps on one of the buttons in palette 434, this would causethe button label to appear in lens area 436 and a unique annotation(e.g., an annotation equal to the button label) to appear above therelevant word in ticker area 432 to correspond to the each button inpalette 434. A series of such annotations is shown in area 433 a. (An“s” annotation also appears above the word “said” in highlighted area435 indicating the student substituted another word—i.e., the word“says” which the teacher noted in area 438—for the word “said.”)Further, in such an embodiment, other annotations can appear in tickerarea 432. For example, a note icon annotation 433 b appears above theword “get” which indicates that the teacher created a note concerningwhat they observed during the child's reading of that word. In anotherexample, a familiar “accurate” checkmark would appear above each wordthe student read correctly.

In an embodiment, delete control button 434 f acts as an “undo” buttonthat negates the effect of the last button in palette 434 tapped by theteacher. This would also cause any resulting annotation in area 432 tobe erased or replaced by a note icon annotation 433 b depending on thestate of area 438. That is, in an embodiment, if area 438 does notcontain a note, button 434 f will cause the previously-createdannotation to be erased. If, however, area 438 does contain a note,button 434 f will cause the previously-created annotation to be replacedby a note icon annotation 433 b, thereby indicating the completion ofthe note creation for the previously-tapped word.

In an embodiment of the present invention that implements the Claymethodology, the reading running records include the M/S/V coding systemthat indicates what cues sent the student in the wrong direction whenthey made an error and what cues were used by the student when theycorrected themselves. That is, as will be appreciated by those skilledin the relevant art(s): an “M” code indicates that the student took acue from the meaning or context of the text (i.e., passage) they werereading in making the mistake or correcting themselves; an “S” codeindicates that the student took a cue from the syntax of the text theywere reading in making the mistake or correcting themselves; and a “V”code indicates that the student took a visual cue from the text theywere reading in making the mistake or correcting themselves.

Accordingly, the teacher may tap menu control button 439 a during theassessment in order to display a second palette of buttons correspondingto the M/S/V coding system. FIG. 4D is an exemplary window or screenshot 440 displayed on PDA 102 during the administration of the literacyassessment (i.e., step 216 of process 200) of the real-time observationliteracy assessment application. Screen 440 shows the expansion of menucontrol button 439 a. This causes a palette of control buttons 442 a-ccorresponding to the M/S/V codes, respectively. The teacher can thenindicate the use of meaning, syntax, or visual cues by pressing theappropriate control button 442. These indications are captured in therunning record, along with the error, for later review, display ormodification.

In an embodiment, palette 442 would include a Try That Again (“TTA”)button 442 d that allows a teacher, when a student make too many errors(e.g., after being distracted), to instruct the student to start over.Tapping TTA button 442 d places a TTA expand icon 444 in ticker area 432before the word that was tapped by the teacher as the beginning word forthe TTA text portion. The application then calculates the last word ofthe TTA passage to be the last word in ticker area 432 that has beenpreviously-coded with a behavior of interest button 434 a-e by theteacher. Then, all the error-related annotations and notes are clearedfrom area 432 for the TTA text portion. By tapping on TTA expand icon444, it turns into a TTA contract icon 452 as shown in screen 450 ofFIG. 4E. Then, the text that was selected to be tried again is grayedout and the previously-recorded errors are displayed above the text.Tapping on TTA contract icon 452 will cause the handheld to return toscreen 440.

In an alternate embodiment, the set of buttons 434 would include a“Repetition” button that allows the teacher to cause an arrow to appearin ticker area 432 indicating the beginning and ending point where thestudent repeated themselves while reading the (or those) word(s) aloud.FIG. 4F is an exemplary window or screen shot 460 which would bedisplayed on PDA 102 during such a repetition operation. That is, screen460 illustrates the teacher tapping on the center of a word (i.e.,“the”) and dragging to center of any previous word (i.e., “fishing”) toselect a block of text the student repeated. In an embodiment, when thestylus moves off the original word, a left facing elbow bracket 462displays on upper right hand corner of word to denote the end of theselected area. As the stylus moves along the text, a path 464 is drawnup to a right facing elbow bracket 466 that snaps to the upper left handcorner of the word that denotes the beginning of the selected block. Inan alternate embodiment, this action may cause TTA button 442 d toautomatically appear for selection. In yet another embodiment, a notecan be created about the repetition (e.g., number of repetitions, etc.)in freehand area 438.

FIGS. 4G-4 i are exemplary window or screen shots 470, 480 and 490,respectively, displayed on PDA 102 during the display scores andanalysis step (i.e., step 218 of process 200) of the real-timeobservation literacy assessment application. That is, after the teachertaps the “Done” control button 439 e, the assessment application isstopped and the assessment is complete.

Summary screen 470 may then be displayed, using the “Summary” tab shown,which gives the teacher instant information to support their teaching.As shown in screen 470, the real-time, observation assessmentapplication immediately reports and charts the student's results (e.g.,accuracy rate, total words, total errors, etc.), M/S/V analysis andother important statistics that were not previously available toteachers in prior paper-based assessments.

M/S/V analysis screen 480 may also be displayed, using the “MSV” tabshown, which gives the teacher additional instant information to supporttheir teaching and provides an opportunity to record or modify M/S/Vanalyses. As shown in screen 480, the real-time, observation assessmentapplication immediately reports more detailed M/S/V analysis than thatpreviously-shown in screen 470. The teacher can select an error byclicking on the appropriate word, which causes lens area 436 to displaythe word, and any associated note and M/S/V analysis already recordedfor that error to be displayed in freehand area 438. The teacher canthen record or modify the M/S/V analysis for that error by pressing aset of M/S/V toggle buttons displayed in area 438.

Results edit screen 490 may also be displayed, accessible using the“Edit” tab shown, which gives the teacher the ability to edit andcorrect portions of the reading running record, including any notes infreehand area 438, before synchronization with Web server 110. In anembodiment of the present invention, such notes are stored in thehandheld's local cache 104 using a platform-independent vector encoding.Upon synchronization, this encoded information is transmitted to Webserver 110 and eventually stored in database 114. During reportgeneration and viewing (i.e., steps 224-226 of process 200), the notesmay be recreated by Web server 110 in Flash format for browser-basedviewing on workstation 106.

FIGS. 4J-4K are additional exemplary window or screen shots 492 and 494,respectively, displayed on PDA 102 during the display scores andanalysis step (i.e., step 218 of process 200) of the real-timeobservation literacy assessment application. That is, after the teachertaps the “Done” control button 439 e, the assessment application isstopped and the assessment is complete. Screen 492 may then be displayedwhich gives the teacher instant information to support their teaching.The application (i.e., screen 492) immediately reports the student'saccuracy rate and other important statistics that were not previouslyavailable to teachers in prior, paper-based assessments.

In an embodiment, detailed results may be displayed graphically and areavailable to the teacher on screen 492. In the example of screen 492, agraph that displays the tested student's progress over time, includingany change in reading level, is shown. Other view results screens, suchas screen 494, take data that teachers previously had to interpret inpurely numerical form, and make it easy to grasp visually. That is, theteacher can exactly determine how the tested student is progressing byusing, for example, the ratio of accurately-read words to errors,self-corrections to errors and the like can be shown in pie chart form,and a graphical comparison of relative frequencies of meaning, syntaxand visual miscues for errors and self-corrections can be displayed.

FIGS. 4L-4M are two additional exemplary window or screen shots 496 and498, respectively, displayed on PDA 102 during the display scores andanalysis step (i.e., step 218 of process 200) of the real-timeobservation literacy assessment application. The present invention alsoprovides more “classroom management” tools, such as screen 496, thathelp teachers see the particulars of each student's reading progress,that help manage changes in reading level and the administration ofreading groups. Many of these reports, such as screen 498, are usefulfor conferences among reading teachers and for conferences with parentsin which a broad review of reading history is needed.

As mentioned above, the teacher can place their PDA 102 in its cradle,synchronize and then log onto the service provider's Web site via theInternet 108. Once there, several report window or screen shot can bedisplayed on workstation 106 during the view report step (i.e., step126) of process 200). In general, these report screens allow the teacherto view a running record in the same manner as they would be on a paperrecord. However, more detailed analysis can be done, teachers can moreeasily type observations, and records can be shared in a discussion withcolleagues or experts. Progress reports also can be generated by gradelevel, by school, and even by district.

FIGS. 5A-C are three exemplary report window or screen shots 510, 520and 530, respectively, displayed on workstation 106 during the viewreport step (i.e., step 226 of process 200).

In report screen 510, the teacher can see a graphical report of astudent's assessment. Each error shows up in a diagnostic window 502which contains the kind of error and any M/S/V analysis that wasconducted during the assessment. A statistics area 504 containsimportant statistics about the student's error types. At the bottom ofthe screen, teachers can record any notes they wish to associate withthe assessment. In an embodiment, an e-mail button 506 is provided whichallows the teacher to communicate with students and parents directly.

Screen 510 also includes a progress link 508. Clicking link 508 causesreport screen 520 to be displayed. Report screen 520 illustrates astudent's progress over time as they have moved through various readinglevels. A chart 512 is displayed with each point 514 being a link to afull report for the previous assessment it represents.

Screen 520 also includes a class summary link 516. Clicking on link 516causes screen 530 to be displayed. Report screen 530 is a view of theentire class' progress over time. The number of days each student hasbeen on his or her current reading level is displayed in an area 522. Inan embodiment, screen 530 will highlight all students who have been on aspecific reading level too long (based on the teacher's pre-setrequirements). Screen 530 also contains a plurality of graphs (shown asgraphs 524 a-b) which can display various comparisons of the class'achievement to that of other classes or categories of students.

VII. Example Implementations

The present invention (i.e., system 100, process 200, architecture 300and/or any part(s) or function(s) thereof) may be implemented usinghardware, software or a combination thereof and may be implemented inone or more computer systems or other processing systems. In fact, inone embodiment, the invention is directed toward one or more computersystems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. Anexample of a computer system 700 is shown in FIG. 7.

Computer system 700 includes one or more processors, such as processor704. The processor 704 is connected to a communication infrastructure706 (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Varioussoftware embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computersystem. After reading this description, it will become apparent to aperson skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the inventionusing other computer systems and/or architectures.

Computer system 700 can include a display interface 702 that forwardsgraphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure 706(or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on the display unit 730.

Computer system 700 also includes a main memory 708, preferably randomaccess memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 710. Thesecondary memory 710 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 712and/or a removable storage drive 714, representing a floppy disk drive,a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storagedrive 714 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 718 in awell known manner. Removable storage unit 718, represents a floppy disk,magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to byremovable storage drive 714. As will be appreciated, the removablestorage unit 718 includes a computer usable storage medium having storedtherein computer software and/or data.

In alternative embodiments, secondary memory 710 may include othersimilar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions tobe loaded into computer system 700. Such devices may include, forexample, a removable storage unit 722 and an interface 720. Examples ofsuch may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such asthat found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as anerasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable readonly memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storageunits 722 and interfaces 720, which allow software and data to betransferred from the removable storage unit 722 to computer system 700.

Computer system 700 may also include a communications interface 724.Communications interface 724 allows software and data to be transferredbetween computer system 700 and external devices. Examples ofcommunications interface 724 may include a modem, a network interface(such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal ComputerMemory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc.Software and data transferred via communications interface 724 are inthe form of signals 728 which may be electronic, electromagnetic,optical or other signals capable of being received by communicationsinterface 724. These signals 728 are provided to communicationsinterface 724 via a communications path (e.g., channel) 726. Thischannel 726 carries signals 728 and may be implemented using wire orcable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, an radiofrequency (RF) link and other communications channels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computerusable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as removablestorage drive 714, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 712, andsignals 728. These computer program products provide software tocomputer system 700. The invention is directed to such computer programproducts.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) arestored in main memory 708 and/or secondary memory 710. Computer programsmay also be received via communications interface 724. Such computerprograms, when executed, enable the computer system 700 to perform thefeatures of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular,the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor 704 toperform the features of the present invention. Accordingly, suchcomputer programs represent controllers of the computer system 700.

In an embodiment where the invention is implemented using software, thesoftware may be stored in a computer program product and loaded intocomputer system 700 using removable storage drive 714, hard drive 712 orcommunications interface 724. The control logic (software), whenexecuted by the processor 704, causes the processor 704 to perform thefunctions of the invention as described herein.

In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily inhardware using, for example, hardware components such as applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardwarestate machine so as to perform the functions described herein will beapparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s).

In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using acombination of both hardware and software.

VIII. Conclusion

It should be understood that FIGS. 4 and 5, which highlight thefunctionality and other advantages of RTOA system 100, are presented forexample purposes only. The architecture of the present invention issufficiently flexible and configurable such that users may utilizesystem 100 in ways other than that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (e.g., the useof different button labels, screen annotation characters, button codesfor different behaviors of interests, report formats and the like).

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled inthe relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A real-time observation assessment system comprising: an assessmentapplication that enables an assessor to administer an assessment to astudent, the assessment application including code that configures aninterface to include: a text area of the application to display at leasta portion of the assessment text and to receive a selection of a portionof the assessment text as input, a freehand area of the application toreceive freehand text from the assessor, wherein the freehand text isassociated with the selected portion of the assessment text, and areview area of the application to display the selected portion of theassessment text and the freehand text; and a memory code segment that iscapable of leveraging memory to store assessment data that associatesthe selected portion of the assessment text and the freehand text. 2.The system of claim 1 further comprising a mobile computing device,wherein the assessment application is configured to perform on themobile computing device.
 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising ascoring module that is configured to calculate a score based on theselected portion of the assessment text.
 4. The system of claim 1wherein the assessment application includes code that configures theinterface to include: a first screen that includes the text area and thefreehand area; and a second screen that includes the review area,wherein the second screen is separate from the first screen.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising multiple buttons that correspond toobservable behaviors and that are configured such that one of thebuttons may be selected and button information is associated with theselected portion of the assessment text.
 6. The system of claim 5wherein the memory code segment is capable of leveraging the memory tostore the assessment data that associates the selected portion of theassessment text, the freehand text, and the button information.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6 wherein the review area is configured to display theselected portion of the assessment text, the freehand text, and thebutton information.
 8. The system of claim 5 further comprising acomputing device that is configured to receive the assessment data andto display the assessment text such that the freehand text and thebutton information are displayed with the selected portion of theassessment text.
 9. A method for performing a real-time observationassessment, the method comprising: providing a text area that isconfigured to display at least a portion of an assessment text and thatis configured to receive a selection of a portion of the assessment textusing an input device; providing a freehand area that is configured toreceive freehand text from the assessor; associating the freehand textwith the selected portion of the assessment text; providing a reviewarea that is configured to display the selected portion of theassessment text and the freehand text; and storing assessment data in amemory module that associates the selected portion of the assessmenttext and the freehand text.
 10. The method as in claim 9 furthercomprising using a mobile computing device to provide the text area,provide the freehand area, associate the freehand text with the selectedportion of the assessment text, provide the review area and store theassessment data.
 11. The method as in claim 9 further comprisingcalculating a score based on the selected portion of the assessmenttext.
 12. The method as in claim 9 further comprising: p1 providing afirst screen that is configured to include the text area and thefreehand area; and providing a second screen that is configured toinclude the review area, wherein the second screen is separate from thefirst screen.
 13. The method as in claim 9 further comprising providingmultiple buttons that correspond to observable behaviors and that areconfigured such that one of the buttons may be selected and buttoninformation is associated with the selected portion of the assessmenttext.
 14. The method as in claim 13 wherein storing the assessment dataincludes storing the assessment data in the memory module thatassociates the selected portion of the assessment text, the freehandtext, and the button information.
 15. The method as in claim 14 whereinproviding the review area includes providing the review are that isconfigured to display the selected portion of the assessment text, thefreehand text, and the button information.
 16. The method as in claim 13further comprising a computing device that is configured to receive theassessment data and to display the assessment text such that thefreehand text and the button information are displayed with the selectedportion of the assessment text.
 17. A machine-accessible medium thatwhen accessed, results in a machine performing operations that enable anassessor to perform a real-time observation assessment, comprising:providing a text area that is configured to display at least a portionof an assessment text and that is configured to receive a selection of aportion of the assessment text using an input device; providing afreehand area that is configured to receive freehand text from theassessor; associating the freehand text with the selected portion of theassessment text; providing a review area that is configured to displaythe selected portion of the assessment text and the freehand text; andstoring assessment data in a memory module that associates the selectedportion of the assessment text and the freehand text.
 18. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 17 further comprising using a mobilecomputing device to provide the text area, provide the freehand area,associate the freehand text with the selected portion of the assessmenttext, provide the review area and store the assessment data.
 19. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 17 further comprising calculating ascore based on the selected portion of the assessment text.
 20. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 17 further comprising: providing afirst screen that is configured to include the text area and thefreehand area; and providing a second screen that is configured toinclude the review area, wherein the second screen is separate from thefirst screen.
 21. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17 furthercomprising providing multiple buttons that correspond to observablebehaviors and that are configured such that one of the buttons may beselected and button information is associated with the selected portionof the assessment text.
 22. The machine-accessible medium of claim 21wherein storing the assessment data includes storing the assessment datain the memory module that associates the selected portion of theassessment text, the freehand text, and the button information.
 23. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 22 wherein providing the review areaincludes providing the review are that is configured to display theselected portion of the assessment text, the freehand text, and thebutton information.
 24. The machine-accessible medium of claim 21further comprising a computing device that is configured to receive theassessment data and to display the assessment text such that thefreehand text and the button information are displayed with the selectedportion of the assessment text.